Photo Flash: First Look at Human Race's RED

The Human Race, Dayton's own professional theatre company, presents RED featuring Michael Kenwood Lipperta and Will Allan. The production will play the Loft Theatre January 19-February 5.

Lippert is a very familiar figure through the Miami Valley, both from his performances with The Human Race, which go back to the company's original production, Count Dracula, in 1986 and include such hits as Orphans, The Elephant Man, The Speed of Darkness and The Drawer Boy, and from his many years working in area schools for Muse Machine. He was a 2011 Governor's Award for the Arts winner.

Allan is a local product, a 2005 graduate of Oakwood High School who now works out of Chicago, where he has been in two Jeff Award-winning Best Plays in the past three years (The History Boys and The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?). He recently became an Artistic Associate at Timeline, which the Wall Street Journal calls the Best Theatre Company in America, and was one of the Chicago Tribune's 2011 Hot New Faces in Chicago Theatre.

"Michael and Will together are just combustible," says director and Human Race Resident Artist Richard E. Hess, Chair of Drama at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, "It's fantastic." Hess knows fantastic - the most recent of his many contributions at The Loft were Doubt, A Parable and I Am My Own Wife.

"On its surface, RED is a play about Mark Rothko, and it's immense enjoyment to see a man like that come to life." Says Hess. "Below that is the story of a man struggling deeply with immortality, with what one leaves behind. It's gut-wrenching to watch an artist paved with such humanity."

RED will include a collaboration with the Dayton Art Institute. During the run, the DAI will have a loaned Rothko work on display, and the institute's gift shop is offering a 10% discount in January to buyers who show a RED ticket or stub.

Heather Jackson is Stage Manager for RED. Mark Halpin designed the set, Lacee Rae Hart the costumes, Resident Artist John Rensel the lighting and Rich Dionne the sound, with Heather Powell is the Properties Master.

RED will have a Preview Night at The Loft Theatre January 19, with official Opening Night January 20 and performances through February 5. Tickets are available via www.humanracetheatre.org, by calling Ticket center Stage at (937) 228-3630, or at the Schuster Center Box Office. Student tickets are half price for all performances, and 25 seats at each end of The Loft are being sold for just $25 as part of The Human Race's 25th Anniversary Season.

Production sponsors are The Dayton Power & Light Company, Anonymous, Jean V. Woodhull, Rob & Leesa Comparin, Larry Glickler – Bradford-Connelly & Glickler Funeral Home, Jon & Diana Sebaly, John & Tamara Clough, and Connexion Marketing and Design Solutions.

The Human Race Theatre Company was founded in 1986 and moved into the Metropolitan Arts Center in 1991, taking up residence at the 219-seat Loft Theatre. In addition to the Eichelberger Loft Season, The Human Race produces for the Victoria Theatre’s Broadway Series, the Musical Theatre Workshop series, and special event programming. The Human Race, under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Kevin Moore, also maintains education and outreach programs for children, teens and adults, as well as artist residencies in area schools, The Muse Machine In-School Tour, and summer youth programs. Human Race organizational support is provided by Culture Works, Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District, Shubert Foundation, the Erma R. Catterton Trust Fund and the Ohio Arts Council. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Human Race's 25th Anniversary Season is sponsored by the Miriam Rosenthal Memorial Trust Fund. 

Photos by Scott J. Kimmins

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